Predicting borderline and antisocial personality disorder features in nonclinical subjects using measures of impulsivity and aggressiveness

Fossati, Andrea; Barratt, Ernest S.; Carretta, Ilaria; Leonardi, Barbara; Grazioli, Federica; Maffei, Cesare

doi:10.1016/j.psychres.2003.12.001

« Previous Next »Psychiatry Research
Volume 125, Issue 2 , Pages 161-170, 15 February 2004

Predicting borderline and antisocial personality disorder features in nonclinical subjects using measures of impulsivity and aggressiveness

Andrea Fossati
- Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy Unit, Faculty of Psychology, ‘Vita Salute’ San Raffaele University, via Stamira D'Ancona, 20, 20127, Milan, Italy
- Corresponding author. Tel.: +39-02-2643-3241; fax: +39-02-2643-3408
Ernest S. Barratt
- Psychodiagnostic Service and Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, 301 University Boulevard, Galveston, TX 77555-0189, USA
Ilaria Carretta
- Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy Unit, Faculty of Psychology, ‘Vita Salute’ San Raffaele University, via Stamira D'Ancona, 20, 20127, Milan, Italy
Barbara Leonardi
- Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy Unit, Faculty of Psychology, ‘Vita Salute’ San Raffaele University, via Stamira D'Ancona, 20, 20127, Milan, Italy
Federica Grazioli
- Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy Unit, Faculty of Psychology, ‘Vita Salute’ San Raffaele University, via Stamira D'Ancona, 20, 20127, Milan, Italy
Cesare Maffei
- Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy Unit, Faculty of Psychology, ‘Vita Salute’ San Raffaele University, via Stamira D'Ancona, 20, 20127, Milan, Italy

Received 27 December 2002; received in revised form 15 October 2003; accepted 4 December 2003.

Abstract

This study examines impulsivity and aggressiveness dimensions as predictors of borderline (BPD) and antisocial (ASPD) personality disorder symptoms in nonclinical subjects. A total of 747 undergraduate university students were administered the Personality Diagnostic Questionnaire-4+, the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale-11, and the Buss-Durkee Hostility Inventory. Hierarchical regression analysis showed that motor impulsiveness, irritability, resentment, and guilt predicted BPD symptoms among university students after controlling for the effect of ASPD and depressive symptoms. ASPD symptoms were predicted by motor impulsiveness, physical aggression, indirect aggression, and negativism. These results indicate that in nonclinical subjects BPD and ASPD symptoms share a common impulsivity dimension but are linked to different aggressiveness facets.

Keywords: Personality Diagnostic Questionnaire, Barratt Impulsiveness Scale, Buss-Durkee Hostility Inventory, University students, Depressive symptoms, Hierarchical regression analysis